A Dominican national living in Lawrence, Massachusetts, has been indicted for unlawfully reentering the United States after being deported. Santos Eduardo Diaz Melo, 41, faces one count of unlawful reentry of a deported alien following his arrest by immigration authorities on May 9, 2025. His initial court appearance in Boston is pending.
According to the indictment, Diaz Melo was deported from the United States on May 5, 2020. The allegations suggest he returned to the U.S. without permission sometime after his deportation.
The charge carries a potential sentence of up to two years in prison, one year of supervised release, and a fine up to $250,000. After serving any sentence imposed, Diaz Melo would be subject to deportation once more. Sentences are determined by a federal district court judge based on U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and relevant statutes.
The announcement was made by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley and Patricia H. Hyde from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Enforcement and Removal Operations in Boston. Assistant U.S. Attorney Allegra Flamm from the Major Crimes Unit is handling the prosecution.
It is important to note that the details within the charging documents are allegations at this stage. “The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.”
